Playing With Fire

Chapter- 2

I showed up to school the following day early again but this time I went in as soon as I got there to see if I could find Phoenix. To my disappointment I didn't see him at all that day.

For the rest of the week, things stayed exactly the same. I didn't see Phoenix even once. I knew I was being paranoid but It almost felt like he was purposely avoiding me. Why would he though, he didn't even know me.

"Waiting for someone?" Erin met me at my locker the following Monday. Her voice held an accusing tone to it.

Everyday I got to know Erin better and we learned more about each other but I just didn't feel the need to tell her that I wanted to know more about Phoenix. I knew I'd be chastised about it.

"Just you. Come on, let's go eat."

I couldn't help my eyes from wandering the halls and everywhere else they could to look for the mysterious man that made me NEED to know more about him.

As soon as we walked into the cafeteria I had to struggle to take in my next breath. He was there. Not only was he here but he was sitting at Erin and I's table. How in the hell did he know? I didn't even think that he had the same lunch as us.

I felt Erins arm latch around mine and she pulled me against her. "Holy crap...Lil..." Her voice scratched out.

His eyes bore into mine as I finally found my footing and began to move towards the line to get food. "C-come on, food." Was all I managed to get out and we moved together. She didn't let go of me and I was pretty sure she couldn't stop looking at him as well. But instead of being a good kind of nervous like me, I think Erin just might've been terrified...

"Why is he here Lil? W-why our table?"

I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket and looked at her wearily before moving forward again. "I-I... I uhm, I invited him last week... on my first day."

"What!? After everything I said, after I told you people including ME are afraid of him.."

"I'm sorry ok? I wanted to give him a chance. I-you don't even know him. You've never talked to him. How can you be sure he's so scary Erin? I highly doubt anyone's given him a fair chance and I wanted to."

She grew quiet for a minute and I watched her watching him read at our table while he ate a bag of chips. He looked so normal even though he was still incredibly attractive. No one else looked that good eating chips.

"F-fine Lil, but if I can't handle it I have to move."

I continued along, getting my food without another word. When I looked to our table again I was shocked to find that it was empty.

WHERE DID HE GO NOW?

"Looking for me?"

I almost jumped out of my skin when I saw that he was now right behind me. Erin was no longer there at all. What the heck though!?

"She had to go. I'm sure you'll see her later today. I decided to take you up on your offer and sit with you, turns out we do have the same lunch."

I was flabbergasted by how many words were leaving his mouth, considering he barely spoke to me on that first day.

"Lilith, you're holding up the line. Do you want to sit with me or not?"

He was smirking at me like I was the most hilarious thing in the world. I quickly nodded and walked passed him to the table. His voice was distracting. His presence was distracting.

At the table I stared down at my pizza, not interested in eating it at all. I thought I could handle this much better than I was. Being 'alone' with Phoenix made my heart race. I was having difficulty even making eye contact.

"Why did you want me to sit with you at lunch?" I didn't expect for him to be so forward. I wondered what had changed his mind. I wondered why he decided to actually talk to me.

"Where were you?" It was easier to deflect that question....for now anyway.

He chuckled and I only looked up at him for a moment but was caught in the light green color of his eyes. It was the most interesting color that I've ever seen. In that moment I was pretty sure it was now my favorite color ever.

"I was out of town. Had some... business to take care of. I actually have a lot of things to take care of when I'm not in school."

"You're only a teen. Why do you have to take care of so much outside of school?" I wasn't sure if I was crossing any boundaries with the question but when I said I wanted to know everything about Phoenix, I meant it.

My question only caused him to chuckled again and he was leaning in closer to me. I didn't realize how close he really was until I felt his hot breath on my face. Minty..

"I have plans for after high school that I want to put into motion now. In all honesty, I don't really need to be here."

Didn't need to be here? Was he thinking of dropping out to work full time? I knew a lot of people who had done that before. Usually they dropped out to work at their parents business because they were rich and would eventually work there after school anyway. They took the easy way out but I never wanted to.

"Don't think too much into it Lilith, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get it."

"You're definitely right. I don't know what to think..." I let my voice trail off into a whisper as I played with the bracelet on my arm and stared down at the table again.

"So why did you ask me to sit with you and your friend at lunch?" He didn't let it go. Of course he wouldn't, that was just my luck. Where was Erin anyway? What did she have to take care of. Where did she go? If she had something that she had to take care of for a class she would have told me.

Something deep down inside of my soul told me that he did.

Phoenix scared her away. That was the only explanation.

"I-I wanted to get to know you. I'm new and want to make new friends." It wasn't necessarily a lie. I did want to make new friends and I wanted to know everything about him.

Should I tell him that I'm obsessed with him?

I looked up to find him grinning. It was a beautiful sight. No matter how stand-offish he acted, I didn't care. He had a hard outer exterior. It was obviously a defense mechanism.

"Really now. You're the first person who's ever said that to me. Give me one reason why I should tell you anything about me, why I should trust you..."

I watched him place his chin on his hand and tilt his head at me.

Was this who he really was, really or did he act this way because of all the judgmental àssholes in this place?

He was still grinning and he looked on like he wasn't expecting me to give him any kind of answer.

"Because I don't believe what everyone says about you Phoenix. I don't believe Erin. You don't scare me. You seem like a cool, badàss dude who is misunderstood."

A look of shock crossed his features but only for a moment and then he was laughing. Laughing so loud, I noticed that everyone was looking at us now. Not just the few curious people but EVERYONE.

When he finally stopped he looked me right in the eyes. For a moment the seafoam green looked forest but I blinked and they were that light shade again. My mind was playing tricks on me now.

He was getting to me.

He was making me crazy nervous.

"I think you're way out of your league Lilith Lawson." He knew my last name... "I think you should listen to what everyone says kitten. I am dangerous. In fact, I'm extremely dangerous."

He licked his lips and I felt chills travel the entire length of my body.

"I-I don't care. Let me decide that for myself. I think I deserve for you to give me a chance. If no one's ever wanted to get to know you, WHOS to say you won't like me?"

I could see it in his facial expression, I could feel it in my bones- I was TESTING him. He wasn't used to anyone ever testing him before. At least not in this school.

Did I feel scared in that moment? Maybe... but that didn't mean I was going to give up. I could see why everyone avoided him, was afraid of him.

In that fleeting moment where I felt the fear he could envoke... I understood.

"Do you like getting hurt, kitten?"

Where did this 'kitten' thing come from? Did I remind him of a cat?

He chuckled softly this time before he gave me one, curt nod and then sat up very straight.

"Ok. I'll be your friend but you have to understand a few things before we get to know each other."

Really? He was giving in? Just like that? I thought I'd have to put up a fight... where I would end up losing of course but still a fight nonetheless...

"A-alright.."

"You will not dig into certain parts of my life, certain things that are off limits to everyone but myself. If I want to tell you something, I will tell you. You can ask questions but this doesn't mean you'll get answers, thus where the- 'you will NOT dig part' comes in. Got it kitten?"

I felt my eye twitch at the little nickname this time. It was as if he was talking down to me. In fact that's exactly what he was doing. He must not have many friends. Why was he so private? I would agree to his terms but that didn't mean I wouldn't try to break down these annoying as fück walls he was putting up. Rules to being his 'friend.'

Never had I ever...made friends with someone like him. Had to deal with someone like him.

"G-got it."

"I'm not quite sure you do, little one. You think this is a game don't you? That I'm some puzzle you can easily solve with words and trust. First of all, I know how good liars can be with words and I trust no one. People are shït, they're greedy, they're selfish and the only thing they really care about is themselves. I've met maybe one person in my whole lifetime that hasn't been like that. So it will take a lot out of you trying to earn my trust. And if you want to know ANYTHING of minuscule importance to me, you'll have to earn my trust. How do you plan on doing that?"

He was trying to push me away, trying to get me to give up. But I knew he was being completely honest with me. He let every word shine through his eyes. He was trying to show me who he was without telling me about him.

"First of all, I don't think that this is a game. I truly do want to be friends with you. But I think the only way I'm going to earn your trust Phoenix, is to be completely open with you. About who I am, how I'm feeling, what's on my mind... I think I need to bare myself to you in order for you to open up. I have to go first."

He nodded again, the look on his face told me he was pleased with my answer. "Good girl. You're smart, I think I'll like you kitten. This is going to be fun."

Fun. That's all he could call it right now but I was hoping that in the future, when he could trust me and he would- he would get more than fun out of our relationship.

I didn't know what exactly could become of knowing him and him knowing me so thoroughly but I was hoping it wasn't disappointment.

What was Erin going to think? There was no way I'd avoid him when she was around. There was no way I'd ever avoid Phoenix if I could help it.

Why did he make me want him to let me in so bad?

He had an invisible pull on me. He was a raging fire taunting me to come and play with him and I wanted to play more than anything.

I just couldn't help but wonder if he knew what he was doing to me.

Something deep down inside of my soul told me that he did.